The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-06-01
my foot IS burned, anyhow, when

stepped on the deck, you know
"Oh, you poor grill And you didn't say
a wordl Why it is bad burn, the skin
is coming off. have some salve in my
pocket and can bandage it now," and he
is kneeling, with the delight of physician
and the sympathy of Il novice, with my
foot in his hands. There was nothing
strange to us in this episode, it was so
thoroughly in keeping with this horrible
nightmare from which l expected to
awake with the daylight, but look back
now with strange thrill and sec again
the frightened group on that lonely
Tennessee shore with the background Of
inky cottonwood forests and the awful un-
earthly glare of the burning Rosabel, now
IL beautiful phantom in fire, in the fore
ground, and in all that desolate scene l
am the most abject bit of forlornty. Even
the babies have mothers, but l have my
mortal enemy.
A great content comes over me as look
at the kneeling figure, so tenderly wrap
ping my burned foot, for feel that all my
responsibility has slipped upon his broad
shoulders, and shall be guarded even at
the price Of his life. This, too, was the
young man who had sworn to Cousin Tom
that the world could not hold them both.
1t is morning by the time that rude wagons
have been brought and the helpless ones
are carried to the nearest village, ham
let of half u hundred unpainted houses and
a postoffice store. We are distributed
among the houses, and as soon as we have
breakfasted Royal sallies forth to buy me
some hose. l have written the size and
style upon slip of paper, which he mod
estly puts in his pocket without reading
Presently he returns with the appalling
intelligence that it is Sunday and the store
is closed, and we are surprised to find how
dazed we are, but my hostess overwhelms
me with the loan of pair of blue woolen
ones OF vastness and coarseness indescrib-
able, which go over bandage and all.
1t will be three days before the boat
comes to carry us away, eternal three
days in anticipation, but in reality
charmed days, that are gone before can
believe it. Royal had entertained me-
read to me, prescribed for ME, explaining,
however, that even in war the truly brave
are always gentle to the women and
children Of their adversaries, and we have
tacit understanding that our joint ad-
venture is not to be written home.
But nobody can appreciate the zest with
which the Farnham entered into the
spirit of the romance, and insisted upon
understanding so much more than there
was in the affair.
She was fond of telling her views, too,
as I knew from her number of sly con-
gratulations and joking insinuations that
began to disturb my comfort; still I
thought that so long as Royal was uncon-
scious of all it did not matter.
The night before we reach Cincinnati
group of us are gathered at the end of the
grand saloon, exchanging experiences and
vowing external remembrance of each
other in the light Of ''perils past and dan
gers o'er.'
"But the loveliest of ALL" cried Mrs.
Farnham's impulsive voice, twas the cpl
sode of these two young people; can't
get over it. do so love young people and
romance, and never had chick nor child
of my own. You needn't blush, my dears,
nor look so embarrassed, for we know all
about it. Nothing could be more beauti-
full than Mr.. Storms devotion and tender
ness, we've all remarked, and I'm sure
that no face could show more appreciation
and love than Miss Castles; such perfect
trust, too. And now, my dears, before
you go across the state l want you to
come and be my guests for a little while,
and then l am going to make you promise
that whenever the time comes you will let
me make a wedding for you, and invite all
theSe II iGLu5 Ol tile nDSuDel. NOW uO1
say mo- Miss Castle tells me that she
is motherless, and have adopted her and
set my heart upon this. Make her say
yes Mr.. Storm, she will mind you, l
know
Royal Strengthened to his full height,
and looked every inch the king that he is.
He drew a long breath and looked full into
my foolish, burning face, holding my eyes
with his.
at shall be as Miss Castle says"
Nothing on earth could rejoice me so
much. shall never forget the thrill and
easnestness of his tone, but l cannot re-
member what l gasped out in my agita-
ton, and Royal will not tell me. Later,
when we are gra1ely discussing the i'm
portant question-what to tell the people
at home, he suggests one plausible story
after another until brilliant idea strikes
me. "Why, Roy, say, suppose we tell
them the truth. Hyer Neff in
Cleveland Leaaer.